All Those Moments: Stories of Heroes, Villains, Replicants, and Blade Runners

I’ve liked Rutger Hauer for ages but didn’t find out he’d written this until a fortnight ago (when I saw (on Facebook) a mention of his relationship with Sylvester Stallone) and I immediately picked up a copy. Published in 2007, it is an autobiography but a lot of the details are very sketchy - of his childhood he mentions a close relationship with his younger sister Machteld and that his parents were both actors (a situation made difficult in postwar Netherlands, which necessitated them leaving the children for months at a time, which Hauer cannot understand) - but gives more details in his year at sea when he was 15. Following a brief marriage - and the birth of his daughter - he then, in 1968, meets Ineke, the love of his life and it’s clear that he absolutely adores her. With this stability in his life, his acting career begins to take off (his working relationship with Paul Verhoeven is key) and following several well-received Dutch films, he ventures abroad, making “Nighthawks” (he and Stalllone locked horns as the latter over-rode the director on the film) and more. He spends the most time - and goes into the most depth - with the chapters on “Blade Runner”, an experience he clearly enjoyed, both in terms of the acting and his relationship with Ridley Scott and his insights into the process of making it are excellent (especially that he came up with the “All those moments will be lost in time, like tears in rain”). His film choices after this are a bit uneven but he makes the most of the situation and his self-deprecating humour carries him through situations well. In 2000, making an unremarkable film on the Turks and Caicos Islands, he was shocked by the AIDs/HIV situation there and set up The Rutger Hauer Starfish Association, a non-profit organisation which attempts to lighten the lives of those afflicted. The penultimate chapter deals with this and talks about some of the things they do and it seems a very worthy cause, whilst the book closes with a sampling of his private diaries, which are humorous, touching and pleasantly philosophical. The book itself is told in a light, breezy style, as if you were sitting down having a chat with him and Hauer comes across very well - loyal to his beloved wife and friends, intelligent and funny, aware of how lucky he is but also willing to work hard - and I liked him even more by the time I was finished reading. Although I’d have liked a bit more detail, this is a very good book about a very decent man and I would highly recommend it.

I write this more than a year after the purchase of the book and his very, very sad departure.I was obviously a big fan of Rutger, mostly via my total addiction to Blade Runner, but also for other films like The Hitcher and Osterman's Weekend. After reading this book my admiration has grown much more, and I would have liked to have met him in the flesh, because he comes through as a very honourable, captivating and witty person. He really is Roy Batty through and through, and I was amazed to find out, almost 40 years later, that the famous ending line ("I've seen things.... Time to die") was his own work: the notion brought tears to my eyes, on top of those I shed for his passing away, the same year as in Blade Runner, 2019....The story of his life and career is interesting and very well written here, including his accidents and misfortunes. The book goes beyond Rutger and gives insights into life as an actor and all that goes around it.If you liked Blade Runner, you gotta have this book, but even if you didn't, God forbid, it is totally worth a read.R.I.P. my friend Rutger, I'll always miss you.

As someone who has followed Rutger Hauer's career for almost 30 years I was delighted to find he has made the time to write an autobiography (with the assistance of a co-writer). Written in a very conversational way, and not having his quirky use of language totally expunged, this is a lovely book for getting to know a little about a creative soul. I did feel that much was left out that might interest, and that he may have been encouraged to focus less on his Dutch and European work because it may be of less interest to the American market, however on the whole, it was an entertaining introduction to a man who's cinematic characters have run the gamut of genres and emotions. A book about someone with a lot of talent and a big heart - there is something here also about his STARFISH FOUNDATION which provides some grass-roots help for children and women with AIDS/HIV especially in developing countries.He's not done yet, there are many creative challenges ahead, and hopefully this book may encourage budding new directors to invite him to participate in projects new, but directing is very much on his horizon.Rutger's website is also very well worth a visit [...]

Rutger Hauer is my favourite Dutch actor, ever since I saw him in Soldaat van Oranje. I really enjoyed this book, he is a great storyteller and some of the anectodes were great fun to read. I would recommend this book to any fan of Dutch actors in general as he describes the situation in the Netherlands with great detail.

Really interesting to read the backdrop to this man’s history and influence in the acting profession. I have always been a big fan. So was very sad to hear of his passing in July. Very entertaining book.

Excellent, enjoyable read Rutger Hauer is a really decent guy, RIP

Have always respected Rutger Hauer as an actor and primarily bought this after his epic performance in Blade Runner.There is an honesty and ethic in his personality that shines through the book, a gentle-man full of power and energy.Thoroughly enjoyable read from a great actor who knows who he is and what is important in life.

A very easy read with humour and insight from one of the movie worlds greatest actors. RIP Rutger.

Great to read about the actor's life and acting history.

Acquistato come regalo per mia moglie che è sua fan. Se sapere l'inglese è un bellissimo libro

Gutes Buch das einen Einblick in den Werdegang dieses Ausnahme Schauspielers, aus den Niederlanden gibt.Der Titel ist passend gewählt..✌️Kurzweilig und amüsant...👍

This book was very well written. It flowed very smoothly, and as some other reviewers pointed out, it had a very warm, intimate conversational tone. I could see Mr. Hauer sitting across from me with his coffee and hear him speaking the dialogue in the Dutch accent he had early in his career. Some of the Dutch social attitudes, preference for plain speaking, disdain for pretension and dislike for b.s. came across very clearly in the writing. I don't know how much input the co-author had, but Mr. Hauer's voice is evident.In keeping with his view that in acting, less is more, Mr. Hauer's prose is direct and spare. However, through his use of understatement and irony, he does reveal matters close to his heart. His love for his wife, family, friends and country shine through, as does his compassion for others.As the title suggests, we get some of the highlights of Mr. Hauer's life and career, the moments that brought him from where he was to where he is now. I looked at some of the other reviews before I bought 'All Those Moments' and noticed that several reviewers would have liked more space devoted to the movies. It's funny because after reading this book, I would have liked more about Mr. Hauer's later life in Holland. The early years were covered, but then the emphasis shifted to life in the film industry. I don't want "enquiring minds want to know" details, but I had hoped for a non-invasive glimpse of this aspect.I was very disappointed that there were no photos in the book. I didn't pay close attention when I purchased the book, but after I read it, I found where the publisher stated that the electronic edition has no fotos. They add greatly to a book like this, and it is frustrating that publishers leave fotos, illustrations and maps out of the eBooks in many cases.I enjoyed the book, especially the part with the early years. I loved 'Soldier of Orange', so it was very nice to learn something about how it was made. For those more interested in the Hollywood years, there are plenty of interesting tidbits and personal observations. This was not what I would consider to be a full, comprehensive biography, but an overview with highlights of some memorable moments. It made for a pleasant, engaging read.I was tempted to give this book fewer stars because of the lack of photos, but that is not the author's fault. Curse all publishers who withhold photos, maps and illustrations! I am giving the book five stars and I highly recommend it, as long as the reader is aware that this is an overview and lacks fotos.

This book was delivered quickly & is a paperback format with glossy cover, with photos of Rutger Hauer inside. I'd highly recommend it for fans of him & his movies.